6/25 Quick post

I worked 12 hours today so am in a hurry. Great news from Kris and Brian--a baby is on the way. We are all thrilled.

Tonight's quick article--Why do we mourn when celebrities die?

6/22 I didn't win

Went to the Hyundai/Honda dealer to check my numbers from the newspaper and guess what? I didn't win $50,000. Okay, check that off my to-do list.

Enjoyed work today. I really think I helped some people. Found someone else who sees Jane for medical services. Lots of people seek mental health services after seeing Jane. You do the math.

Tonight's article is Chris Brown plea bargains a deal.

Now for dinner--thanks, Cindy, for the pasta salad. I can't wait to dive in.

6/21 A super fathers' day

We had a good time at the Gustison Family Reunion. Lots of visiting, games and food. Wow. I'm still full. Looking forward to the next time. Gussie had a great time too.


Tonight's article is Rihanna a reluctant witness against Chris Brown.

6/20 Rainy days

Note this is not a complaint, merely an observation: I slept a lot of the day asleep because I have a migraine. The weather has played havoc with most of my body, head, back, hips, leg, shoulders, etc. This is the gift of arthritis. Mix it with rainy weather and voila!

Jan called. She, Tim, Joe and Cindy are going to Junefest to meet some other family members, but I just didn't feel like going. They'll have a good time, I'm sure.

Tomorrow is the Gustison family reunion. Sure hope the rain stays away so we can have a great time. It's always fun when the family gets together.

Tonight's article is Psychologists and torture

6/15 Weird tv

Our cable network has our local CBS affiliate as the ABC station too. Does anyone know about this? I spent 40 minutes in an online chat with Comcast personnel and they told me about it. I was just reporting that our ABC affiliate seemed to be gone.

Maybe someone else in Quincy knew about this. Did you?

And tonight Gussie met the blind miniature dachshund across the street, Johnson.


Tonight's article is: Another family dead in murder suicide

6/14 I love weekends

Yesterday WW told me I stayed the same. And after two weeks of family events I'm pretty darn proud of that. Now to get back to really working on getting healthy.

Last night was St. Francis Parish Picnic. Absolutely perfect weather. It's great to see people you went to school with and their parents, spouses, and kids. I love it. Trouble is--last year was my first year back and I was in the midst of really bad back pain so just stayed a short while. (Plus ate a giant sno cone and onion rings. Boy did that ever make me sick.)

So I was really looking forward to last night. Unfortunately my back was a problem. I didn't eat or drink anything and stayed a little more than an hour. I'd been doing well for a few months, but I think dancing at two weddings in a row might have done me in. Today it's still bad, so I'm hoping a little rest (but not too much) will help.

I can tell you this because I don't have my "no complaint" bracelet on yet. At work we got purple bracelets from a Complaint Free World. Here are the "rules":

"Suggested Rules

Begin to wear the bracelet, on either wrist.

When you catch yourself complaining, gossiping or criticizing (it’s ok, everyone does) move the bracelet to the other arm and begin again.

If you hear someone else who is wearing a bracelet complain, you may point out their need to switch the bracelet to the other arm; BUT if you’re going to do this, you must move your bracelet first!

Stay with it. It may take many months but when you reach 21 days you will find that your entire life is happier, more loving and more enjoyable."

On the website it also says that you can say something with a negative connotation as long as there's no ego involved in it. You can tell the waiter that your soup is cold--that's just a statement of fact. It's the comments to your friend afterward that's complaining. It's okay for me to say my back hurts, but when I say my back hurts and I didn't get to stay at the picnic and everyone else was having a good time without me and I didn't even get to have one beer, etc. That's complaining. Which is why, if I had my bracelet on, I would have moved it to the other wrist. I'm trying to go 21 days straight without complaining. Not easy. But I've gone several days, then just mess up. The nice thing is that the bracelet isn't judgmental. :)

Last night's article is Reality show junkie?

6/10 Good and bad

So many great things have happened and also so many crummy things. It's life--up and down, in and out, sick and well, life and death. Humans are both the best and worst of the species on the earth.

Tonight's article is the shortest one I've written and has the longest title.

Anxious and depressed because of lack of sleep: Maybe it's all in your genes

6/3 I'm alive

Yes, I'm alive, but still very tired. Started my new job on Monday of this week. But that was after a wonderfully fun-filled week and weekend with family. Kris and Brian's wedding was beautiful and the reception was off the hook. (Never thought I'd use that phrase.)

I loved every minute of Rob and Beata's visit and they are safely back in North Carolina now. Miss you guys already.


Tonight's article is Texting: Good, bad, or neutral for your kids?